Fluid torque converter



Nav. 6, 1945. J. JANDASEK 2,388,329

`FLUID TORQUE CONVERTER l' Filed June so, 1943 .ala v f y X v 1NVENToR., J/DH Je/vonsEK Arroensx Fzg.3

Patented Nov. 6, 194.5

FLUID TORQUE CONVERTER Joseph Jandasek, Detroit, Mich., assigner to Bendix Aviation Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corl poration of Delaware Appueaumjune so, 1943, serial No. 492,967`

s claims. w1. nso-54) This invention relates to transmissions; and

more particularly to that type known as fluid torque converters.

An object of the invention is to provide a uid torque converter having the most eicient fluid iiow stream.

Another object of the invention is to provide a uid torque converter having -a conventional vortex chamber, vanes for energizing fluid, and vanes for absorbing energy from the uuid so arranged in the chamber and in relation to one another that the most etliclent flow stream may be attained.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fluid torque converter including an impeller,

a turbine, and a reaction member each having at least two sets of vanes.

Another object of the invention is to provide a torque converter including an impeller, a turbine driven thereby, 'and a reaction member cooperating with the impeller and turbine each having two sets of vanes, one set characterized in` that they have a high liftand are overbent. and the other set characterizedin'that they have a relatively low lift, and are so arranged as to equalize the flow stream. l

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawing forming a part of this specication, and in which,

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a fluid torque converter, partly broken away;

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatical view illustrating the vane structure; and

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatical view illustrating a lmodiiication of the vane structure.

Referring to the drawing for more specific del tails of the invention, I0 represents a stationary frame having rigidly secured thereto a sleeve I2 internally slotted to provide a channel I4 termil nating in an opening I6 through the wall of the sleeve, and the channel Il is covered as by a tube I8 tted snugly in the sleeve. The frame I0 also has a bearing support 2l concentrically disposed with relation to the sleeve I2.

A housing 22 has oppositely disposed axial hubs 24 and 26.I The hub 24 receives a bearing 2l fitted on the stationary sleeve I2, and vthe hub 26 receives agbearing 3l fitted on the support 20. 'I'he hub 26 has internal splines l2 for the reception of a driven shaft, not shown, and bolted or otherwise secured on the hub is a bearing support for the reception of a bearing II held in place by a retainer 38.

A driving shaft III is tted in the tube Il with ample clearance to provide an annular passage 2. The shaft has thereon a hub 44 held against displacement by a retaining nut IB threaded in the end of the shaft, and the hub M has a concentrically disposed sleeve IB for the reception of the bearing 36, and a iiuid seal il is interposed between the hub 44 and the hub 26 of the housing 22. v

An impeller indicated generally at 52 includes an outer shroud 54 integral with the hub u. The shroud is spaced from the wall of the housing 22, and labyrinth seals 56 and ilhave parts on the shroud cooperating with complementary parts on the housing to retard the ow of iluid between I the shroud and the housing, and the shroud has an opening therethrough forthe passage of iiuid so that pressure on the inner and outer faces of the shroud may be balanced. y

The outer shroud il has arranged thereon two sets of vanes 82 and 64, one set spaced from the other set by a free equalizing vortex, and an inner shroud section 66 is supported by the vanes. The vanes 62 are characterized inthat they are of a streamline type having a high lift B8 and an overbend portion l0; in other words, they are so contoured as to eiectively absorb energy from lthe fluid, and the blades B4 are characterized in that they are of the streamline type having relatively low lift l2, and are effective for equalzing the owstream and also for absorbing energy from the fluid.

A turbine indicated generally at Il cooperates with the impeller to provide a vortex chamber 'I6 for the circulation of fluid. The turbine iS 0f the two-stage type. The ilrst stage includes two sets 'tion 66 to provide a core which may be vented as indicated at Il. V

The second stage of the turbine includes two .sets of vanes 86 and II alike in structure and l a suitable source of supply, not shown, byway.

2 of the annular passage 42 and inlet 82, andreturned to the source of supply by way of the -source of supply.

The stationary sleeve I2 has thereon bearingv 06 and 98 spaced apart by a ring |00 keyed or otherwise secured to the sleeve. The bearings support for rotation athreaded sleeve |02, and a one-way drive |04 is interposed between the ring and the threaded sleeve; A ring |06 threaded in one end of the sleeve |02 has a c oncentric ange |08 extended over the sleeve to provide in conjunction therewith an annular chamber ||0, the purpose of which will hereinafter appear. The ring |06 supports a iiuid seal ||2 interposed between the bearing 96 and the housing 22 for inhibiting seepage of iluid from the housing.

Correspondingly, a ring ||4 threaded in the other end of the sleeve |02 has a concentric flange ||0 extended over the sleeveto provide an annular chamber '|I8, the purpose of which will hereinafter appear, and also a ange |20 for the reception of a fluid for the reception of a uid seal |22 serving to secure the bearing 98 against displacement and also for inhibiting seepage of fluid from the housing through the bearing. The iiuid seals 2 and |22 impose slight frictional resistance to rotation of the threaded sleeve |02.

A retractle reaction member for cooperation with the impeller and turbine is indicated generally at |24. I'he reaction member includes-a carrier |26 mounted for travel on the Vthreadedsleeve This second set of vanes includes spaced streamline vanes 2|4 of relatively low lift 2 6 for directing the ilow and effectively equalizing the flow stream.

In a normal operation, rotation of the impeller 52 by force transmitted through the driving shaft |02 between thev rings |06 and ||4. The carrier has its respective ends so shaped as to enter the annular chambers ||0 and ||8 upon completion of its travel in both directions of movement so as to effectively cushion the same.

The carrier supportsea spider |28 having seimpeller and associatedrturbine, the fiow stream cured thereto an outer shroud section |30, and i arranged on the shroud are spaced sets of vanes .|32 and |34. The vanes |32 support an inner shroud section |36 extended beyond the trailing edges of the vvanes |32 to the leading edges of the vanes l| 34. These vanes are somewhat wider than the vanesy |32 and they support an inner shroud section |38.' The vanes |32 are characterized in that they are streamline vanes having high lift and are substantially overbent so as to quickly influence. the turning moment of the fluid, and the vanes |34 are streamlinevanes having relatively low lift and are eective for equalizing the ilow stream. The vanes |32 and |34 do not diier 40 results in energization of the fluid in the vortex chamber 10. Because of the overbend character of thejvanes 62 and the equalizing character of the vanes 64 of the impeller, the maximum energy is imparted to the fluid and the ow stream through the impeller is directed in the most eiective path. As the fluid enters the turbine, the energy of the uid is absorbed by the vanes on the respective stages of the turbine 14 and on the reaction member |24. 'I'his results in rotation of the turbine and the consequent transmission of force through the hub 26 thereof to a. driven shaft, not shown. During this sta/ge of the operation, the vanes |32 and |34 oi' the reaction member |24 are held against movement in the ow stream by the one-way drive |04 and consequently torque multiplication is attained.

Because of the particular character and arrangement of the vanes 18 and B0 on the iirst stage of the turbine, the maximum energy is ab'- sorbed from the iluid and the fiow stream is equalized as the uid enters the reaction member where, due to the character and arrangement of the vanes |32 and |34, the maximum energy is again absorbed by; these vanes and the iiow stream equalized and directed in the most emcient path as the i-luid enters the second stage of the turbine, where yet again the vanes 06 and 88 receive the energy of the fluid and equalize the ow stream and eiectively direct the fluid to the impeller, Y,

Upon attaining a lpredetermined speed oi. the

in the vortex chamber 16 changes and the iluid impinges on the backs of the reaction vanes |32 and |34.. This results in automatic movement of the reaction member |24 on the threaded sleeve |02, movement of which is frictionally resisted by the uid seals I2 and 22, and as the reaction member travels on the threaded sleeve, the reaction vanes |32. are fully retracted from the iiow stream and theA reaction vanes |34iare partly retracted from the tlow stream. Toward the end of this movement of the reaction member the carrier |20 enters the annular chamber ||0, and this serves to cushion the. reaction member, and

- upon completionofl this operation the unit funcmaterially in vstructure and arrangement from the vanes of the turbine.

A modication of the vane structure is illustrated in Fig. 3. In this embodiment .a set of streamline vanes 200 includes spaced vanes 202 each characterized in that' it has a substantial lift 204 and an overbend 200 for efiectivelv'absorbing energy from the iluid, and arranged in on the faces of those portions of the vanes |34 remaining in thefiow stream, and thereafter on the ia'ces of both the vvanes |32 and |34, and this results in travel of the reaction member on the threaded sleeve, the sleeve being held against movement by the one-way drive |04.

vspaced relation between the vanes 202 at the entrance of the channels therebetween are streamline rectii'yingA vanes 200 and 2|0 for effectively directing the ilow stream through the channels. Preferablv therectifying vanes 2|0 are somewhat longer than the rectfving vanes 208 so as to more effectively direct the ow stream. Because of the overbend characteristics of the vanes 202, the flow stream is distorted to anundsirable extent, and to overcomethls'objection a second set of streamline equalizing vanes 2|2 is arranged in Yspacedo relation to the trailing edges of the vanesfz'202. 75-

During this travel of the raction member, the reaction vanes |32 and |34 are again introduced into the ilow stream. Toward the end of this lmovement, the carrier |26 is received by the annular chamberl I3 so as to cushion the member. and at the end of the movement the reaction member is heid against movement in one direction by the one-way drive. This completes the cyc e.

While this invention has been described in connection with. certain specific embodiments, the principle involved is susceptible of numerous other nounced overbend, and the vanes of the second set having relatively low lift. y

2. A iiuid torque converter comprising driving and driven elements each having two sets of xed streamline vanes, a free equalizing vortex between the sets, the vanes of the leading set having high lift and pronounced overbend, and the vanes of the trailing set having relatively low lift.

3. A fluid torque converter comprising an impeller having two sets of ,xed streamline vanes arranged in series, the leading set having high each including two sets of fixed streamline vanes arranged in series, the leading set having high lift and pronounced overbend.' and a reaction member for cooperation with the impeller and turbine having two sets of xed streamline vanes, the leading set having high lift and pronounced overbend.

4. A iiuid torque converter 'comprising 'an impeller having two sets of fixed streamline vanes arranged in series with a free equalizing vortex intermediate the sets, the vanes of the leading v set having high lift and pronounced overbend, a

lift and pronounced overbend, a turbine for cooperation with the impeller having two stages turbine for cooperation with the impeller, and a reaction member for cooperation with the impeller and turbine.

5. A uid torque converter comprising an impeller, a turbine associated therewith and a, reaction member for cooperation with the impeller and turbine each having two sets of fixed vanes arranged in series with a free equalizing vortex between the sets, the vanes of the leading sets having high lift and pronounced overbend and the trailing set having relatively low lift.

' JOSEPH JANDASEK. 

